Vodacom forecasts higher earnings

Johannesburg - Mobile carrier Vodacom Group [JSE:VOD]
expects its headline earnings per share for the year ended March 31 to be
between 5% and 10% higher than the prior year of 656 cents per share.

The company said in a statement on Wednesday that basic and
headline earnings were negatively impacted by an effective tax rate of 36%,
mainly due to secondary tax on companies on higher dividends paid and the
movement in net deferred tax assets.

Higher depreciation and amortisation from higher capital
expenditure, including non-cash capital additions, also had a negative impact.